As said before, Aang's a minor here (about 12-13), and yes, this is an Ozaang pairing (thought it's not explict or focused on, it is not a loving, happy, healthy) but the primary focus here is the relationship between Zuko and Aang. If this squicks you out, you can leave and forget about this. Please.

Also, I hate my crappy writing style, so expect some choppy and uneven paragraphs and dialogues.

This will be edited constantly.

If you asked Zuko how he felt when he brought the Avatar in tow, along with his pet bison, he would have replied somewhere between a "hn." to "excited."

But now, he wishes he could take it all back.

Sometimes Zuko regretted turning him in to his father, because when the boy and his bison first woke up from their iceberg cocoon, the boy was nothing but trusting, cheerful, and energetic. His eyes showed no hostility and he was not alarmed of their blood as Fire Nation.

And then, the blue tattoos proudly displayed clicked.

With the addition their new crew member, or more specifically, the Avatar, Zuko slipped amounts of drug in his food to repress his bending. At first, he was skeptical, this was the Avatar wasn't it? The all-powerful, god-like bring? And yet, the boy showed no erratic behavior and followed him and his uncle around like a little, lost turtleduck, chirping out random outdated phrases, and calling himCaptain HotmanorCaptain Zuko, even if he yearned to get back to his home, to the ruins of the air temples after visiting the fire nation (he doesn't need to know this yet).

While he sent his a message to his... Father relaying the Avatar's capture, his uncle and him were laughing, playing Pai Sho or discussing about tea. He rambled about his adventures in the fire nation his friend, Kuzon, whoever that was. Well, this just made things easier if he had no idea of the war, and as the horizon of the land of the fire nation became more closer, he thinks of his honor.

After being escorted after docking their ships, the boy's pet clinging to him -the Avatar's request-, upon their arrival, there, his father ontop of his throne, proud and superior as always.

"Welcome back home, Zuko." His father said to him, and a warm feeling engulfed his chest. He was back, he was home, after so long.

His father continued, "Congratulations on your completion of your quest and your capture of the Avatar."

Hearing this, the Avatar exchanged a confused look -or to be more exact, an alarmed expression- at the corner of his eye; Zuko ignores this.

"And this is the Avatar?" His father says knowingly and the boy jolts, his body expression on display.

"What? No... Ahahaha, you must be mistaking me for someone else." The boy nervously chuckles. As if anyone would fall that: his tattoos are on full display. If one couldn't put two or two together, they were idiots.

"I am very proud of you, Prince Zuko." His father said, "I hope you'll enjoy your stay here." And motions to the soldiers.

And what followed after would engrain deeply but he could never forget the boy's terrified eyes pleading to him and his uncle, toplease, do somethinganddon't do this. He could only shut his eyes tightly and turn his head away.

He could hear the sounds of struggling and useless begs as the boy attempted to fight back - with and his now discovered loss of bending ability- and was outnumbered. His pet bison roared and tried to help protect his owner but was quickly knocked out. This further panicked the boy, and seeing this opportunity, the soldiers overpowered him.

His bending suppressed, even for some higher being, he was now the equivalent of a non-bender. And when Zuko looked back, the boy gave him his best look of betrayal and hurt before he was dragged away.

His uncle shot him a disappointed look and he felt like trash.

Ever since that, it was now a common occurrence if a blood-curdling scream of a young boy came from father's chambers. No one knew what he did to the prisoner, but when he finished his business with the Avatar, father was considerably more patient, calm, and calculative.

Whatever he did eased him in a really, really good way.

And that scared him, because to please father, it is the same as dying because the Fire Lord endures in suffering and pain.

The other day, he had passed by his Uncle. They still talked and chatted of course, but his uncle's expression still embedded deeply in his mind. They had never discussed about the Avatar that day. Until now.

His uncle had told him, "It's never too late to mend open wounds."

He snorts and brushes pass him when his uncle calls out, "You should visit him sometime."

He doesn't know why he takes it to heart but he knows the guilt just be eating him out. The Avatar's betrayed look etched deeply in his mind.

So today, he's passing by the chambers leading to his father's -and the Avatar's- room. He had never stopped by to visit the prisoner ever since he turned him in. Granted, he was given some privileges but up until now, he had never used them.

He's right outside the chambers. He remembers his uncle's words with him and considers this again. He hesitates before entering the room and closes the door behind him.

The only inhabitant was a young boy with blue tattoos running over his body; large dull, tired silver eyes, and a growing patch of brown hair from his once bald head.

He inwardly winces at the boy's state: red-rimmed eyes from crying too much, hickeys and bite marks littering the boy's bruised red, blue, and black skin, and the obvious shackles binding him to this room.

Not to mention the semen the boy hastily rubbed away from with his lips with the back of his hand.

Then, their eyes met.

"How are you doing?" It slips out of his mouth before he could stop it and Zuko could feel the awkwardness.

"I'm doing great." The boy's hoarse, raspy voice replies back.

His eyes were completely neutral and devoid of emotions, despite the clear pain and anguish in them.

Zuko stands there, not knowing what to say. Well, why did not think of what to say first before he entered? This was really awkward. It's been awhile since he last saw the Avatar and he's never been good at conversations, and here, in his proud, heavy red and gold robes, with his former prisoner, Zuko feels horrible.

"Can you... Are you here to release me?"

"No." He says.

The boy tries again, "Please. Isn't there any way to convince your father to let me go?"

"No."

"I won't tell the elders, I promise. I'll just say I was scared I was the Avatar and I ran off, I'll accept any punishment they'll give and I won't say anything about this."

Did he not know his home was gone? That nothing was left except for the decaying ruins and forgotten ghosts? Did his father not inform him, after all this time?

"No."

"Please?" The boy's voice breaks, "I really, really want to go home."

"Look, I said no, okay? You're not going anywhere. Not now, and not ever."

"O-oh." The boy looks stunned. "Oh. Okay."

"It's not like you have anywhere to go to; don't bother: there's nothing left. You have no home." Ouch. He may have been a little harsh on that.

He expected the Avatar to be shocked, or to break down, but instead, the boy sighs bitterly. "I know. I thought maybe you'd care if..." The boy shakes his head. "I thought he was lying at first about what happened to the temples. But then, he showed me it... personally."

"I tried to escape when he wasn't looking, but it was useless anyway." The boy's bottom lip quivered, "And that jer- I mean, the Fire Lord killed Appa because I tried to leave him and he said I forgotten where my place is, so I am in a fire need for punishment.'"

The boy's hands clenched, "He told me if I try to escape, he would round up any 100 refugees he finds and any of his captured enemies for each day I'm in hiding. And- and if I try to kill myself, he'd destroy whatever's left of the temples and raze the land 'till there's nothing left to remember!" The boy is sobbing now, crocodile tears running as freely as his snot, and his chest heaved with each tight gasps.

"I can't do that because I have already failed so much! I want to die but I can't!" The boy wails, "How am I supposed to fulfill my duty as the Avatar, when I can't even save myself!?"

"I don't know what to do anymore!" The boy continues, "He also told me that everyone had been counting on the Avatar for a long time, but when I never showed up, that's when they stopped believing in hope! Because of me!"

"I lost Appa and it's all my fault! He died because of me! And now, I lost everything I loved!"

"If I done better... Maybe I could've...!"

The boy nearly chokes on his own heavy, short cries and Zuko shifted awkwardly. He did not know how to comfort a distressed person in this situation.

Time passed by, the boy showed signs of hyperventilating. Ah, the wonders of losing everything and everyone you knew and loved, and the first person you saw immediately putting you in auch horrible position. This did no good. Why did he say such a stupid thing? His father, much like his sister, loved breaking their toys but not before giving them a small glimmer of hope before extinguishing it.

He walks over and sits next to the boy. Up close, the boy looked worse. His face was gaunt and his ribs poked out; he was especially skinny and short for a boy his age. Zuko patted the Avatar's head -something his mother used to do when he was upset, before she left-. He nearly recoiled when the boy leans into his touch but he steadied. He stiffens when the boy collapses against him, but steadied himself as the Avatar's head rests at his neck.

Eventually, the boy's hiccups faded, and the outline of his back steadies: The boy had stopped crying. He peeled himself off Zuko and sits back, wiping away his tears and snot.

Thinking to himself, Zuko asked something he was afraid of: "Do you hate me?"

"No," The boy says, peering at him curiously, "I forgave you."

"You... Forgive me?" Zuko feels shocked hearing this. Surely, the boy must've hated him from the bottom of his heart with every bit of passion, "After I put you in this position? After everything it done to you?"

"Well... I didn't at first." The boy mumbles against his chest, "I was hurt, and I was angry, but even so, I never hated you. There was no point in it. What good would it be? Besides, you came back, didn't you? That's enough."

The boy's face was pitiful and he had a slight, cute pout. Because of this, Zuko believed he should do something so without thinking through, he blurts out, "You know what... Maybe I could help you out."

The boy's head whipped up so suddenly, Zuko is sure he had a crack. His face is full of hope and longing, and inside, Zuko just made a terrible mistake.

What did he just say? There's no way father would ever let go of his plaything, nor would he ever let go of the Avatar. He just can't shut his stupid mouth up, couldn't he?

"Really? You'll do it?" The boy actually cracks out a slight smile and Zuko feels like he's been stabbed in the chest at this display of his open, pure, trusting behavior after everything he had been through, because he was the to ruin his life and doomed him to misery, and yet the boy never expressed his dislike or rightful hatred to him and Zuko wants to cry at his preserved Innocence.

"I'll look into it." He lies smoothly with a heavy heart. After he's gotten this far, being accepted into his home again, in his rightful position, he wouldn't dare to lose this.

He knows he's being selfish, if not cruel. The Avatar's big, pleading eyes feels like salt pouring on an open wound, but knowing his father, he'll never agree with this request, and he can almost imagine the narrowing gold eyes and his face twisting into a snarl, spatting of betrayal and banishment at the single mention of releasing his favorite prisoner.

Not to mention the rounding and exterminations out of petty rage and the final destruction of the air temples, if what the boy said was true.

Zuko hates himself for this, but for whatever he takes, he'll do anything to maintain his honor.

For the second time that day, Zuko pats his head, and the Avatar relaxes. But for all Zuko's comfort, it is but a lie. Even so, he whispers,

"For now, rest." The boy nods as he settles into bed. He rises from the bed and starts to leave. However, he stops and considers.

"Goodbye, Aang."

"Goodbye. And... Thank you, Zuko."

Zuko feels unworthy of such thanks, but he a small smile tugs the corners of his lips and said, "Of course."

And he leaves their whole conversation behind him.

He really doesn't know what to do now.